Monthly Archive for April, 2016

: April, 2016

Flying Cats: the Catalina in World War II, Andrew Hendrie, 1988, ISBN 0-87021-213-3, 240 pp. Read Flying Cats: the Catalina Aircraft in Worlds War II to learn of fantastic exploits raiding, U-boat hunting, covert insertions and rescue missions. These tellings are true and incredible, to say the least. Also read Hendrie’s fine book to learn […]…

The archetype pairing of the assault glider force for the U.S. military in WW II was the Douglas C-47 Skytrain and the Waco CG-4 assault glider at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force—Ken LaRock photo/National Museum of the USAF image archive
C-… …

Perusing through the San Diego Air and Space Museum photo archive often brings pleasant surprises. Here are some nose art examples, not from glamorous fighters or bombers bristling with machine guns, from the cargo aircraft which flew slow and unarmed to supply troops and airfields as well as extract casualties. …

The Douglas XC-47C was likely a trial to determine the feasibility of the aircraft to perform amphibiously. Whether the idea was from military contingency planning, a need to fund the Edo Aircraft Corp. (now absorbed into a larger company), or to meet a specific need could not be found on-line—nor any first hand experiences. Although […]…

Consolidated PBY Catalina: the Peacetime Record, David Legg, 2001, ISBN 1-55750-245-5, 192 pp. Consolidated’s PBY Catalina, one of a handful of aircraft beloved and romanticized, and—incredibly—yet flying though approaching a century in age. What has not been written about the Catalina? Thankfully, David Legg found such a niche needing attention and he has skillfully addressed […]…

Unconventional, Contrary, and Ugly: the Lunar Landing Research Vehicle, Gene J. Matranga, C. Wayne Ottinger and Calvin R. Jarvis with D. Christian Gelzer, 2005, Monographs in Aerospace History #35/NASA SP-2004-4535, 220 pp. Landing on the moon seems so simple. Gravity about 17% of Earth so less engine power and fuel. No air resistance, so no […]…

They Sailed the Skies: U.S. Navy Balloons and the Airship Program, J. Gordon Vaeth, 2005, ISBN 1-59114-914-2, 156 pp. This book is much more than it appears, especially since the author is a retired Lt.of the U.S. Naval Lighter-Than-Air Division and former head of the Naval Airship Museum. Lt. Vaeth’s story is almost as incredible […]…

Lunar Landing Research Vehicle engine ground test of the hydrogen peroxide propellent rocket thrusters. The original grate used to absorb the thrust had 25% porosity but was found lacking and so increased to 80% which indicates the depth of knowledg… …

Mitsubishi followed the Japanese military preference for an aircraft design with range and speed above all else which meant sacrificing defensive arms as well as a structure which could absorb damage and seal sealing fuel tanks. For a bomber of the time this was not unusual as much modern thinking of the day had […]…